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Cripps Cops To Drug Charges

A driving on a suspended license charge led to several drugs charges and eventually to multiple guilty pleas by a Smithville man recently.

Joshua R. Cripps, 541 Hodge Rd., Smithville, entered best interest pleas of guilty to the charges of possession with intent to delivery and/or sell Schedule II, III and IV drugs and to criminal impersonation in Cannon County General Sessions Court on Thursday (Sept. 1)

Cannon County Sheriff’s Deputy Eric Moss was patrolling Short Mountain Road at 11:50 p.m. on Aug. 19 when he met a vehicle in the oncoming lane traveling 18 miles per hour.

As Deputy Moss approached the vehicle in his patrol unit, it crossed the double yellow line, nearly striking his car.

The deputy turned around, initiated his emergency equipment, and was able to get the driver to stop the vehicle near Cap Young Road.

Cripps, the driver of the vehicle, was transported to the Cannon County Jail and booked on charges of driving on a suspended license. He was also issued a citation for violation of the wheel tax law. He was released after making bond.

On Aug. 20, Deputy Mike Smith was dispatched to a call on Short Mountain Rd. in reference to citizens who found a bag containing narcotics on their property near the road. Deputy Smith retrieved the bag and Deputy Moss met him shortly afterwards.

The Crown Royal bag contained a stick of deodorant, three Swisher Sweet cigars, a pair of scissors, a knife, a piece of material used for cleaning glasses, two cell phones, a small plastic bag containing 14 Xanax and 2 Oxycodone pills, a piece of plastic containing a partial unidentified pill, a prescription bottle with Joshua Cripps’ name on it containing 47 Oxycodone pills, a prescription bottle with Cripps’ name containing 6 Xanax pills and 2 pieces of jewelry, an empty prescription bottle with Cripps’ name on it, a prescription bottle with Cripps’ name containing 14 plastic baggies of various sizes, a silver canister containing 5 Hydrocodones and 13 Xanax and a Camel Snus can containing 5 grams of marijuana.

On Aug. 22, Cripps came called the sheriff’s department and stated that he would like to come pick up his medication. Once Cripps arrived, Deputy Moss showed him the Crown Royal bad and asked him if it belonged to him and Cripps stated yes. Deputy Moss pulled the items out of the bag one at a time and asked Cripps if they belonged to him and Cripps stated they did. However, when the deputy pulled out the Camel Snus can Cripps said it did not belong to him and he did not know what is was.

Cripps was then read his Miranda rights and questioned. While being questioned Cripps denied having any identification and provided the deputy with a false date of birth and Social Security number.

Cripps received a 3 year suspended sentence on each of the drug convictions and was placed on placed on state probation for three years. He was fined $2,000 and ordered to pay court costs in each count. He received a 6 month sentence on the criminal impersonation conviction and placed on probation for 5 months, 21 days. He was released on time served.